Driving across the Texas countryside over the weekend I was pursuing the reasons on why I am treated so differently in the US, Switzerland or my little tiny Island.  More specifically, why the mindset of those cultures is so different.

Immediacy of Borders
I never gave this much though the 12 years I lived in Texas, or rather, I probably did think about it at first but then put it in the "this is normal" category. 
The amount of space in Texas is breathtaking and you could actually drive a thousand miles for more than 16 hours straight and never leave Texas. During my comparatively tiny 200 mile drive, after each "hill" in the road, farm after farm, pasture after pasture unfolded in front of me, as far as the eye could see. 
I have to explain what "hill" means.... see, Texas is VERY flat, so when someone says "hill" they really mean "slightly elevated bump in the road".



I had always thought that people in Anguilla were different because of the small and tangible borders of the island.
In the US, or Texas specifically it's impossible to get the "what goes around comes around" (both for good and bad deeds) concept the way you do instantly in Anguilla, or in Switzerland for that matter.
For example, if you drive down the street, or go to a store in the US and flip someone off, there is no future negative effect and you will most likely never see that person again, which in turn makes you treat people carelessly.  If you did that same thing in Anguilla or in Switzerland, it would immediately come back around, as the recipient of such behaviour is your kid's school teacher or a future employer etc.

So as I drove past myriad of the most adorable little farm houses, I wondered what might happen if I, as a perfect stranger act like I'm back on the island, and just stop by a strangers house and ask for something.... like something to eat.

In Anguilla, there is an open mindset and I would be invited to come in and share a meal with the family without hesitation.  So if the immediacy of your border is what makes us all different, then what would happen here, in this state that is vast State of Texas?

THE EXACT SAME THING!
Out in the borderless US countryside, I absolutely COULD stop by someone's house and expect help if I needed it....   and thinking about tiny Switzerland (where I grew up and lived until I was 17), a stranger could also expect to be helped openly.... but more than likely ONLY if I was out in the countryside.

So while the immediacy of your borders influences how carelessly you treat strangers (and natural resources for that matter), it is not an explanation of the closed mindset, as the willingness to help strangers is almost identical across small town Texas, Switzerland or Anguilla.

So if the size of your country isn't the explanation, then what is?